Ariz. deputy chooses jail over apologizing to lawyer

PHOENIX — More than 100 off-duty court security officers and deputies rallied Tuesday on the steps of Superior Court to show support for jailed detention officer Adam Stoddard.

Stoddard was ordered jailed by Judge Gary Donahoe after he refused to apologize to defense attorney Joanne Cuccia for taking papers from her file during a court hearing in October.

Stoddard said he thought the papers were a security risk, but Donahoe ruled that taking them was a violation of attorney-client privilege. Fellow officers said what the judge did was wrong. They want Stoddard released from jail and his record cleared.